Zinnia marylandica

‘Zahara Starlight Rose’

STARLIGHT ROSE ZINNIAS

Zinnia marylandica ‘Zahara Starlight Rose ‘
STARLIGHT ROSE ZINNIAS

Zinnia marylandica ‘Zahara Starlight Rose’ is a showstopper for size and colouring of the flowers.

Large formal blooms on compact bushy plants 

The blooms of  ‘Zahara Starlight Rose are’ LARGE, but borne on DWARF, compact plants.
So it provides bumper value in a small space.

A double stack of white petals with a formal rose star

The flowers are formal in formation, with a double stack of pure white pointed petals.
With each flower prominently and beautifully marked with a deep rose star.
So each large bloom is strikingly beautiful in itself.
And breathtaking in mass.

Covers itself with prolific blooms

Although Zinnia marylandica ‘Zahara Starlight Rose’ is a small and compact plant, it completely covers itself with large formal blooms, despite the small size.

Compact dwarf neat bushy plants

All the ‘Zahara’ series are renowned for their prolific and long blooming that literally covers the compact, dense bushes from late spring, right through summer and autumn.

Striking garden display, showy pots

So it is a perfect all-rounder for garden display, showy pots, or popular floristry flowers.

Ideal for small gardens

Providing excellent performance from a small space, making it especially valuable in small gardens.

‘Zahara Starlight Rose’ makes an excellent cut flower

Zinnias symbolize thoughts of absent friends in the old language of flowers.
Though florists love them because they are so durable, long lasting and easy to use in bouquets or arrangements.
With Zinnia flowers lasting beautifully for up to two weeks in the vase.
But Zinnia marylandica ‘Zahara Starlight Rose’ knocks the socks off florists because of its striking colouring, perfect formal blooms and stout stems.

Long blooming beauty

Zinnia marylandica ‘Zahara Starlight Rose’ is very long blooming.
And a splendid “cut & come again” plant. Because the more blooms you cut the more it produces.
With each flower lasting well on the bushy plant, plus a constant procession of new buds emerging.
Thus providing excellent colour and cut flower value from early summer right through to the end of autumn and the first frosts.

Great bee food

Bees and butterflies cannot believe their luck with this long blooming smorgasbord of nectar and pollen.
So they make ideal companions in the veggie and picking garden because they haul in the pollinators for you, and keep them in your garden.

Repellent to rabbits and deer

Fortunately rabbits and deer find the flavour of Zinnias unpalatable.

Easy to grow in the garden or field

Grow Zinnia marylandica ‘Zahara Starlight Rose’ in well-drained soils.
It prefers lighter soils, from the sandy side to good garden loam. But can also tolerate clay based soils as long as they are opened up with plenty of organic matter to improve drainage.
It is also tolerant of a wide range of soil pH, from acid to alkaline lime based soils.
But do not over fertilize for best flowering results.

Water-wise

Zinnia marylandica ‘Zahara Starlight Rose’ is a water-wise plant to grow, requiring only minimal additional water during hot periods.
They relish summer heat and are drought resistant.

‘Zahara’ Zinnias are even tougher

Zinnias bask in the sun, and like plenty of fresh air movement.
So they are ideal for more exposed sites and sea-side gardens, with their strong, stout stems.
They are after all natives of Mexico, and southwestern America. And as such well adapted to summer heat.
However the ‘Zahara’ series of Zinnias have been bred for outstanding vigour and disease resistance, even in less than ideal weather conditions.
So they are more tolerant of Partial Shade than other older Zinnia varieties.

Quick & easy from seed to flower

Zinnias generally take around 60 days from seed to flowering, given suitable temperatures.

Traditional medicinal plant

Zinnias were commonly used by native North American peoples for anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory medicines.
Though some tribes also believed the flowers should be regularly fed to children to improve their IQ.

Zinnia marylandica ‘Zahara Starlight Rose’ is a prolific, long blooming annual.
30cm. High with eye catching, large formal double flowers x 30cm. Wide bushy foliage.

SEED SOWING ADVICE: QUICK & EASY

Very suitable for beginners & gardening with kids

Zinnias can be started very quickly from seed indoors.
Ready for earliest possible flowers and longest possible flower production.
But do prick them out quickly from their seedling punnets, as they quickly develop a long, strong root system. They are also suited to Jiffy pots.
Though they can also be very successfully sown direct into the garden.
But you need to wait until day and night temperatures are quite warm to sow them outdoors.

Sow indoors for quick & early plants: First sow the seed in a punnet on surface of good quality seed raising mix.
Then gently press the seeds onto the surface of the mix, to ensure good contact.

Now cover the seeds only very lightly to a maximum depth of 1.5mm.
And you can use sieved mix, or fine grit, or vermiculite, or washed sand to sprinkle over the seeds.

Then place the sown punnet into a shallow water bath and allow the moisture to percolate up through the mix from the bottom to the surface.

Now place the moist punnet in a warm, well-lit position (not in any direct sun).

Zinnias love warmth to sprout

Temperatures of 22-29°C approx. are best for rapid and optimum germination.
And do use a temperature-controlled heat mat if you have one, to keep the heat up and encourage rapid germination.
A warm window-sill or well-lit corner is also fine once temperatures are warm enough.

Adding a clear plastic cover or plastic bag helps to retain consistent moisture in the punnet.

And continue to keep the punnet moist by spraying the surface of the mix with a fine spray water bottle as required.

Seedlings begin to emerge in approx. 3-7 days.

Seed Count: 15 seeds per pack approx.
(We always aim to exceed the stated seed count, and give a generous serve).

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